North Queensland's Murray Taulagi faces an extended time out of the game with a knee injury. -AAP Image
North Queensland coach Todd Payten will have an early test of his squad's depth after star winger Murray Taulagi was ruled out for an extended period.
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Taulagi hobbled off the field at halftime in the Cowboys' 24-12 win over Gold Coast, with scans on Monday confirming a medial collateral ligament injury.
He is expected to be sidelined for four-to-six games, dampening his chances of representing Queensland again in State of Origin's May 31 opener.
The 24-year-old was joint top-scorer for the Cowboys in 2022 with 17 tries, alongside Dally M Rookie of the Year Jeremiah Nanai, who will miss the next two games after taking an early guilty plea at the judiciary for up-ending Phillip Sami in a tackle.
Centre Gehamat Shibasaki faces a two-to-three week stint in the injury ward after injuring his hamstring in Saturday's win, while veteran James Tamou is also out of Sunday's match against Canterbury with a foot issue.
The Cowboys said Tamou went for scans on Sunday and club doctors will await the results to determine a date for his return.
Peta Hiku will likely slot back in place of Shibasaki after serving a two match ban, with fullback Scott Drinkwater to return in round six after sitting out three weeks for a high-shot on Brisbane's Corey Oates.
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